Apparatus for filling containers with liquid under gas pressure

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for filling containers with beer or other liquid under gas pressure is disclosed. The apparatus is provided with a first pipe line for supplying the beer to a container to be filled, a second pipe line supplying gas at substantially constant pressure greater than atmospheric to the container and a third pipe line for exhausting surplus gas and froth from the container. Each of the pipe lines is connected independently of the others to the interior of the container, so that the fluid pressures prevailing in the individual pipe lines are individually regulable and substantially independent of each other.

United States Patent 1 1191 Wickenhauser' Apr. 9, 1974 4] APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS. 3,478,776 11/1969 Royer 137/50541 x WITH LIQUID UNDER GAS PRESSURE 3,380,488 4/1968 Herbst 141/59 X Inventor: George Wickenhauser, Mannheim,

Germany Enzinger-Union-Werke A.-G., Mannheim, Germany Filed: Apr. 28, 1972 Appl. No.: 248,467

Assignee:

Foreign Application Priority Data I May 14, 1971 Germany 2123949 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1969- Nielsen 137/606 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 913,133 6/1954 Germany Primary ExaminerRobert W. Jenkins Assistant Examiner-Alan I. Cantor 1 Attorney, Agent, or Firm--Sughrue,.Rothwe11, Mion, Zinn & Macpeak I 1 ABSTRACT Apparatus for filling containers with beer or other liquid under gas pressure is disclosed. The apparatus is provided with a first pipe line for supplying the beer to a container to be filled, a second pipe line supplying gas at substantially constant pressure greater than atmospheric to the container and a third pipe line for exhausting surplus gas and froth'from the container. Each of the pipe lines is connected independently of the others to the interior of the container, so that the fluid pressures prevailing in the individual pipe lines are individually regulable and substantially independent of each other.

4 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS WITH LIQUID UNDER GAS PRESSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION I The present invention relates to an apparatus for filling containers with liquid under gas pressure and, more particularly to apparatus for filling tankless counterpressure barrels with beer.

In known apparatus for filling such barrels with beer, a beer feedpipe is connected via respective pipestubs with a regulating valve associated with a top-gas feed pipe and/or with a regulating valve associated with a return-gas pipe. In such known apparatus, the aforementioned regulating valves superimpose the pressure prevailing in the top gas and in the return gas pipes, in accordance with a small pressure difference set at any one time, on-the pressure prevailing in the beer feed pipe. It has been found that due to pressure changes in SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided a filling apparatus for filling containers with liquid under gas pressure comprising a first supply conduit connected to a liquid source, a second supply conduit connected to a source of gas at greater than atmospheric pressure, an exhaust conduit, a stabilising valve connected between the gas source and the secondsupply conduit to maintain the pressure of gas in the second supply conduit substantially constant at a predetermined value, a pressure release valve selectively conmeeting the exhaust conduit to the atmosphere thereby to permit gas at greater than a predetermined pressure to pass from the exhaust conduit to the atmosphere, and connecting means to provide mutually independent connections from each of the first supply conduit, the second supply conduit and the exhaust conduit to the interior of acontainer to be filled with the liquid.

The liquid supply conduit is not connected to either of the gas conduits. By feeding the gas from the gas source via the stabilising valve, such'as a pre-settable gas pressure reducing valve, and allowing gas in the ex- .haust conduit to pass through the pressure release valve, the pressure present in each of the two gas conduits is controllable independently of the liquid pressure prevailing in the liquid supply conduit. The pressure in the liquid supply conduit is maintained substantially constant BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The feed of top gas from a source of gas at greater than atmospheric pressure takes place via a feed line 1. A stabilising or reduction valve 2 with a setting handle 2a ensures that the gas pressure in a line 3 is maintained substantially constant independently of the consumption of top gas. Gas is fed from the line 3 to a gas supply conduit 5. The gas pressure prevailing in the gas supply conduit 5 is indicated by the pressure gauge 4. The gas pressure in the conduits may beset at a predetermined value by adjusting the setting handles 2a. Beer is fed via a line 6 to a liquid supply conduit 7. An exhaust gas conduit is designated by the reference numeral 8. The conduits 8 and 7 are connected to pressure gauges 4a and 4b respectively. Connecting means introducing the beer and top gas into a barrel container 10 is indicated generally by the reference numeral 9. The connecting means 9 includes a pipe 9a for introducing the beer into the container 10, a pipe 9b for introducing the top gas into the container, a return gas pipe 9c and a gas valve 9d. As shown in the drawing, each of the connecting conduits orpipes 9a, 9b and 9c extend downwardly into the barrel 10 and the outlet of the pipe 9a is located .Thus, the respective connecting conduits 9a, 9b and 9c of the connecting means 9 provide mutually independent connections from each the conduits 7, 5 and 8 to the interior of the barrel 10. An exhaust gas and foam line 11 leads from the gas'exhaust conduit 8 to an observation gauge 12, where the liquid beer and foam separate so that the liquid can be drawn off to the outside through valve 43. A pressure release valve 14 is connected via a connecting line 13 to the inside of the observation gauge 12. The pressure at which the valve 14 releases gas to the atmosphere can be altered by adjusting a handle 14a. Connected with the line 13 is also an overflow line 15, in which a known non-return valve 16 is arranged which, to a certain extent, permits an equalization of pressure between the top gas supply conduit 5 and the return or exhaust gas conduit 8. This is particularly of significance when initiating or interrupting barrel filling operations. Abeer supply line 6 is in its further course indicated schematically by a broken line 6a. A regulating valve for regulating the pressure at which the beer is supplied to the filling apparatus is indicated generally by the reference numeral 17. The regulating valve 17 is provided with a diaphragm assembly 17a which is acted upon on one side by gas, the pressure of which is freely selectable and which flows from a further compressed gas source via a line 18, and on the outer side by the beer, which acts via a monitoring line 17b. Thereby, the beer pressure can be appropriately selected and maintained substantially constant. The top gas pressure is set by adjusting the handle 2a and the pressure is indicated by'the gauge 4. The return or exhaust gas pressure is set by adjusting the handle 14a andthe pressure is indicated by the gauge 4a. The required pressure of the beer supplied can be read-off the pressure gauge 4b, and the'respective pressures of the top and return gas can easily be set by the handles 2a or 14a so as to establish a predetermined pressure difference relationship. The quantity of the top gas overflowing in unit time through the overflow line can be altered by adjusting a manually settable throttle valve, the overflow line 15 being fully blockable if required. The beer supply conduit 7 is provided at its end remote from the feed line 6 with an elbow portion 20. This portion has the same crosssection as the pipe forming the beer supply conduit 7. The end portion of the elbow extends perpendicularly upwards and is connected via an observation gauge 21 to an air vent valve 23. The gas bubbles aris ing in the beer supply line 6 and carried over into the supply conduit 7 rise through the beer and become visible in the observation gauge 21. The air vent valve 23 may be either an automatic venting valve or a manually operated cock, which may be so adjusted that the barrel filling operation can take place free of disturbances and without being effected by gas bubbles in the exhaust conduit 8. A plurality of connecting devices, such as the one indicated by the reference 9, may be arranged next to one another. Each such connecting device being connected in a similar manner to that shown in the drawing for the device 9 to the pipes 5, 7 and 8. It has been found that the performance per connecting device can be increased by between approximately 5 to 30 percent compared with the conventional barrel filling arrangements, while a quiet and substantially foam free filling ensues with a low incidence of beer spray. Apparatus embodying the invention is also applicable to counter-pressure filling arrangements for filling a wide variety of different containers, such as tins and bottles. The apparatus may also be used for filling containers with any suitable liquid, such as the so called soft" drinks and aerated water, under gas pressure. In the drawing, a support for the barrel filling apparatus is designated schematically and indicated by the reference numeral 22, and the conduits and other components referred to above are supported thereon.

The mode of operation of the tankless counter pressure barrel filler is as follows:

In the operationally ready state of the barrel filler, the liquid supply conduit 7 is completely filled with beer and is subject to a pre-selected pressure of for example l.0 atmosphere above atmospheric. This pressure is determined and maintained constant by the pressure regulating valve 17. Completely independent of the beer pressure in the conduit 7, the top gas pressure in the top gas supply conduit 5 is set by the adjustable reducing valve 2 (handle 2a) to the same pressure magnitude, 1.0 atmosphere above atmospheric, as prevails in the liquid supply conduit 7. The pressure of the top gas is indicated by the pressure gauge 4 and that of the beer by the gauge 4!). The gas pressure in the exhaust gas conduit 8 to which top gas is fed, at least for the initial topping up of the exhaust gas conduit 8 before the beginning of the container filling operation via the non-return valve 16, the line 15, the manually settable throttle valve 19, which is opened for this purpose, and the observation gauge 12 is determined by the pre-settable pressure release valve 14 (set to operate at about 0.8 atmosphere) to be about 0.2 atmospheres below the pressure prevailing in the top gas supply conduit 5 and in the liquid supply conduit 7.

In the liquid supply conduit 7 and in the top gas supply conduit 5, thus exist the same pressure conditions. These pressures are maintained constant by the regulating valve 17 and the reducing valve 2, respectively, at the beginning of as well as during the container filling operation. The pressure in the exhaust gas conduit 8 also is maintained constant but at a lower value determined by the corresponding setting of the valve 14. There is no connection between the conduits 5, 7 and 8 owing to the absence of diaphragm valves such as are employed in hitherto conventional container filling plants for the determination of the pressures, or for the mutual pressure equalization and therefore the respective pressures. in these conduits are determined during the operation of the barrel filling plant only by the regulating valves 2, 14 and 17 according to their respective pre-selected settings. The line 15 has, due to the inclusion of the non-return valve 16, exclusivelythe function of an overflow conduit which selectably connects the exhaust gas conduit 8 with the source of compressed gas.

The non-return valve 16 prevents the pressure in the top gas conduit 5 being effected by the pressure conditions in the exhaust gas conduit 8. For the gas biasing of the conduit 8, a separate duct connected to a source of compressed gas could be employed in place of the line 15.

For the filling of a barrel, the connecting means 9 is sealingly pressed against the bung hole of the barrel 10. The pipe 9b, which is selectably blockable by a conventional control valve (not shown), is in connection with the top gas conduit 5. The pipe 9a, which is selectably blockable by a conventional control valve (not shown), is connected as shown to the liquid supply conduit 7, and the pipe is connected as shown to the exhaust conduit 8 through an interposed float valve 9d. By manual opening of the control valve (not shown) in the pipe 9b, the barrel 10 is pre-biased by the pressure prevailing in the top gas supply conduit 5.

On attainment of a bias pressure in the barrel 10 of 0.8 atmosphere above atmospheric, exhaust gas flows through the pipe 9c, the exhaust gas conduit 8, the line 15., and the automatically opening pressure release valve 14. Since, however, substantially more top gas flows into the barrel through pipe 9b, than exhaust gas can escape through the valve 14, the desired bias pressure of 1.0 atmosphere in the barrel 10 is obtained. After attainment of this pressure, the top gas pipe 9b is blocked, by operating the serially connected control valve (not shown), and, simultaneously, the control valve (not shown) in the pipe 9ais operated to open the pipe 9a and allow liquid beer to enter the barrel 10.

The liquid beer, which is subjected to a pressure of one atmosphere, thus flows into the barrel 10 for a short time under pressure equilibrium and solely due to its geodetic pressure. Since however, by volume, less liquid beer flows into the barrel 10 than gas can flow away through the exhaust valve 14, a pressure of 0.8 atmosphere above atmospheric is soon established in the barrel l0, consequently liquid beer flows into the barrel 10 at an increased rate. At the start of the barrel filling operation, a condition of substantial pressure equilibrium prevails, thus the beer is subjected to substantially isobarometric conditions and flows into the barrel with low velocity, so that the beer does not foam excessively.

The biasing pressure in the barrel gradually drops to 0.8 atmosphere above atmospheric, so that the racking operation occurs with increasing pressure difference and correspondingly increasing inflow velocity. Expediently, the desired maximum pressure difference of 0.2 atmosphere is attained when the outlet of the liquid pipe 9a is immersed below the level of the beer in the barrel, so that the formation of foam is substantially avoided in the barrel 10.

On the filling of a barrel 10, the pressure difference established between the beer supply conduit 7 or the top gas conduit 5, on the one hand, and the exhaust gas conduit 8, on the other hand, permits a more rapid inflow of the liquid beer into the barrel 10 than would be attainable if pressure equilibrium prevailed. Pressure fluctuations, such as are unavoidable on the application of automatically regulating diaphragm or membrane valves in the gas or liquid system of a barrel filler, as well as the liberation of carbon dioxide in the liquid supply system caused by the motions of such valves as have been employed in the hitherto known barrel fillers, are substantially avoided by the provision of reducing or stabilizing valves in the present apparatus. Thus, the present apparatus provides a rapid filling operation, which is substantially free from pressure fluctuations. Consequently, in the present apparatus, the beer flows quietly and is free of excessive foam and the proportion of spray beer is maintained at a low level. When at the end of the barrel filling, the liquid beer rises into the return gas pipe 90, the float valve 9d closes off the return gas path. Liquid can flow on into the barrel only up to pressure equalization. Then the barrel filling is ended by blocking the liquid supply, pipe 9a and lifting off the filling means 9 from the bung hole of the barrel. Foam occurring during or near the end of the filling operation, passes through the return gas pipe 90 and the exhaust conduit 8 into the foam collectingobservation gauge 12. Such foam may then be removed by opening the outlet valve 43. Any foam occurring in the liquid supply conduit 7 or any gas bubbles occurring therein, can be removed from the beer supply system via the observation gauge 21 and the valve 23.

I claim:

l. A filling apparatus for filling containers with liquid under gas pressure, the apparatus comprising, in combination:

a source of gas at greater than atmospheric pressure;

a first supply conduit adapted to be connected to a source of the liquid;

a second supply conduit connected to said source of an exhaust conduit;

a further conduit selectably connecting said gas source to said exhaust conduit; and

a non-return valve serially connected in said further conduit to permit gas to flow therein only from said gas source to said exhaust conduit;

connecting means to provide mutually independent connections from each of said first supply conduit, said second supply conduit and said exhaust conduit to the interior of a container to be filled with the liquid;

a first pre-settable pressure regulating valve connected in said first supply conduit upstream of said connecting means to maintain the pressure of the liquid in said first supply conduit substantially constant at a value pre-set by said first valve;

a second pre-settable pressure regulating valve connected between said gas source and said second supply conduit to maintain the pressure of gas in said second supply conduit substantially constant at a value pre-set by said second valve;

a pre-settable pressure release valve selectively connecting said exhaust conduit to the atmosphere thereby to permit gas at greater than a pressure pre-set by said release valve to pass from said exhaust conduit to the atmosphere; whereby the pressure of liquid in the first supply conduit and the pressure of gas in the second supply conduit are settable to respective pre-set values independently of one another by adjustment of the first and second valves, respectively, and the pressure of gas in the exhaust conduit is pre-settable to a value determined by the setting of the pressure release valve to be independent of the pressure of gas in the second supply conduit.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said connecting means comprises a group of individual connecting conduits, the inlet of a first connecting conduit being connected to said first supply conduit and the outlet of said first connecting conduit being adapted to be connected to the interior of the container to be filled, the inlet of a second connecting conduit being connected to said second supply conduit and the outlet of said second connecting conduit being adapted to be connected to the interior of the container thereby to permit gas from said gas source to be introduced into said container, one end of a third connecting conduit being connected to said exhaust conduit and the other end of said third connecting conduit being adapted to be connected to the interior of said container to permit exhaust gas to pass therefrom into said exhaust conduit.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said outlet of said first connecting conduit is adapted to be located at a substantially lower level in the container than the respective outlets of said second and third connecting conduits.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said presettable pressure release valve is connected to said further conduit, and said further conduit is connected through a manually settable throttle valve to said sec- 

1. A filling apparatus for filling containers with liquid under gas pressure, the apparatus comprising, in combination: a source of gas at greater than atmospheric pressure; a first supply conduit adapted to be connected to a source of the liquid; a second supply conduit connected to said source of gas; an exhaust conduit; a further conduit selectably connecting said gas source to said exhaust conduit; and a non-return valve serially connected in said further conduit to permit gas to flow therein only from said gas source to said exhaust conduit; connecting means to provide mutually independent connections from each of said first supply conduit, said second supply conduit and said exhaust conduit to the interior of a container to be filled with the liquid; a first pre-settable pressure regulating valve connected in said first supply conduit upstream of said connecting means to maintain the pressure of the liquid in said first supply conduit substantially constant at a value pre-set by said first valve; a second pre-settable pressure regulating valve connected between said gas source and said second supply conduit to maintain the pressure of gas in said second supply conduit substantially constant at a value pre-set by said second valve; a pre-settable pressure release valve selectively connecting said exhaust conduit to the atmosphere thereby to permit gas at greater than a pressure pre-set by said release valve to pass from said exhaust conduit to the atmosphere; whereby the pressure of liquid in the first supply conduit and the pressure of gas in the second supply conduit are settable to respective pre-set values independently of one another by adjustment of the first and second valves, respectively, and the pressure of gas in the exhaust conduit is pre-settable to a value determined by the setting of the pressure release valve to be independent of the pressure of gas in the second supply conduit.
 2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said connecting means comprises a group of individual connecting conduits, the inlet of a first connecting conduit being connected to said first supply conduit and the outlet of said first connecting conduit being adapted to be connected to the interior of the container to be filled, the inlet of a second connecting conduit being connected to said second supply conduit and the outlet of said second connecting conduit being adapted to be connected to the interior of the container thereby to permit gas from said gas source to be introduced into said container, one end of a third connecting conduit being connected to said exhaust conduit and the other end of said third connecting conduit being adapted tO be connected to the interior of said container to permit exhaust gas to pass therefrom into said exhaust conduit.
 3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said outlet of said first connecting conduit is adapted to be located at a substantially lower level in the container than the respective outlets of said second and third connecting conduits.
 4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said pre-settable pressure release valve is connected to said further conduit, and said further conduit is connected through a manually settable throttle valve to said second conduit. 